The NBA trophy is completely known as the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy, which is handed down yearly to the winning team at the end of the Finals of the National Basketball Association or the NBA. Each NBA season ends with the NBA Finals, the purpose of which is to determine the championship team of the league for a particular year. In addition, there are more things to learn about this highly significant award including the NBA trophy dimensions.

The Dimensions of the NBA Trophy

The NBA trophy stands 2-feet high. It features a golden net-like base with a golden basketball on top, the diameter of which measures 9 inches, the very same size as a regulation ball in the NBA. It is made out of 14.5 pounds of vermeil and sterling silver, which is overlaid with 24-karat gold. The trophy has an estimated value of $13,500.

Additional Facts and Other Interesting Details

Established in 1977, the trophy was once called the Walter A. Brown Trophy, which was named after the very first owner of the Boston Celtics. He was highly instrumental in the development and successful transition of the league. In 1984, it was renamed as the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, the name of which was taken from one of the former commissioners of the NBA.

Tiffany & Co. manufactures this kind of special trophy annually, which is to be awarded to the winning team in the NBA Finals. After winning the championship, the team gains permanent ownership of the trophy. Each trophy commonly features the engraved team names as well as the championship year. It is displayed on the home court of the winning team.

In 1984, the Boston Celtics won the very first Larry O’Brien Trophy after the team defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. The series ended with a score of 4-3. Despite losing in that particular year, the Los Angeles Lakers are the proud owners of seven trophies, which is the most number of Larry O’Brien trophies amongst all the teams in the NBA. Next to them is the Chicago Bulls with six, followed by the San Antonio Spurs franchise with four NBA trophies.

After winning the very first Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy in 1984, the Boston Celtics were defeated the following year by their rivals the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1986, the Celtics won another championship trophy, this time at the expense of the Houston Rockets. In 1987 and 1988, the Lakers dominated the league, winning back-to-back championships by defeating the Celtics and the Detroit Pistons respectively.

In 1989 and 1990, the Pistons won a couple of championships over the Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers. After that, the Chicago Bulls dominated the NBA from 1991 to 1993, and then from 1996 to 1998, winning a string of three successive championships twice within a decade. From 2000 to 2002, the Los Angeles Lakers won its own version of three successive championships at the expense of the Indiana Pacers led by Reggie Miller, the Philadelphia 76ers led by Allen Iverson and the New Jersey Nets led by Jason Kidd.